Frequently Asked Questions?
What Would You Like to Know?
What's the story behind Wheelchair Basketball?
Wheelchair basketball made its debut at two USA World War II veterans' administration hospitals, namely Corona Naval Station in California and Framingham in Massachusetts, during 1945.
Simultaneously, in 1948, British war veterans initiated wheelchair netball under the guidance of Dr. Ludwig Guttmann (GER) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
The inaugural national wheelchair basketball tournament, featuring six teams, took place in Illinois, USA, in 1949. In the same year, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) was established in the USA.
The introduction of wheelchair basketball to Europe occurred when the Pan Am Jets of the USA were invited to participate in the International Stoke Mandeville Games in 1955. Initially engaged in wheelchair netball, their remarkable performance led to a transition to wheelchair basketball for future Games after dominating the competition.
Wheelchair basketball became a featured sport at the first Rome Paralympic Games in 1960.
What are the rules?
The foundational regulations of wheelchair basketball closely parallel those of conventional basketball, encompassing critical elements such as basket height, foul line distance, and three-point line measurements that mirror their standing counterparts. Nevertheless, adjustments have been implemented over time to specifically accommodate the intricacies of wheelchair play. In 1964, essential international rules were established, integrating minor modifications tailored to the distinctive needs of wheelchair basketball. The sport abides by the standards outlined by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF), which have been adapted from the rules of the Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA).
**SCORING**
The scoring system in wheelchair basketball adheres to a defined structure:
- A single point is awarded for a successful free throw.
- Two points are earned for a field goal made from within the two-point area.
- A three-point contribution is registered for a successful shot from beyond the three-point arc.
Each team is granted a 24-second window to execute a scoring attempt. Failure to do so within the stipulated timeframe results in a turnover, relinquishing possession to the opposing team.
**DRIBBLING**
Players in wheelchair basketball have the liberty to simultaneously navigate their chairs and bounce the ball. However, once the ball is lifted or placed on a player's lap, they are constrained to two pushes before being compelled to shoot, pass, or dribble once more. Notably, wheelchair basketball omits the double dribble rule. A traveling violation is incurred if a player takes more than two pushes while in possession of the ball without dribbling. Additionally, players are forbidden from making contact with the playing surface using their feet while in possession of the ball.
**FOULS**
The wheelchair is considered an extension of the player's body in terms of contact on the court, dictating responsibility in situations such as charging, blocking, going out of bounds, and other infractions. Offensive players are prohibited from lingering in the key area for over three seconds. Alongside occasional technical fouls, a player lifting their legs for an advantage or elevating out of their chair results in a technical foul. Players must maintain a firmly seated position, refraining from using their lower limbs to manipulate the chair or gain an unfair advantage. If a player falls out of their chair, the referee may halt play if injury is imminent; otherwise, the game proceeds. During an inbounds play, the offensive player is barred from entering the key until the referee hands them the ball.
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